Air current conveyer



March 21, 1933. J. B. SCHAUB AIR CURRENT GONVEYER Filed Sept. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 21, 1933- J. B. SCHAUB 1,901,932

AIR CURRENT CONVEYER Filed Sept. 18, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 llhll'lfl STATES JAMES BENTON SCHAUB, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS AIR CURRENT CONVEYER Application filed September 18, 1930. Serial No. 482,740.

My invention relates to a combinataon of apparatus, so arranged as to constitute a conveyer system which may be used for transporting finely divided solids, granular materials, comminuted materials, or liquid substances, in a lateral direction or a vertical direction or a combination of lateral and vertical directions, and most commonly uses conduits as conducting members, and utilizes air or gaseous fluid after having been compressed greater than the pressure of the atmosphere, as a conveying medium. i relates to conveyer systems used to move grain from one location or storage bin to another or from an unloading dock to a storage bin, or the reverse.

It also relates to conveyer systems used to move pulverized fuels and the like from one location to another, as for example from the discharge of the pulverizing apparatus, or from a suitable storage to the bins supplying the fuel to the boiler fire chamber.

It nore particularly relates to conveyors used for transporting and elevating dry sand from a receptacle at approximately ground level to a receptacle sufliciently elevated to allow the sand to flow by gravity into the sand domes of railway locomotives.

The primary object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide novel and simple improvements in conveying apparatus of the general character above stated, to the end that such apparatus may be made to function in an automatic manner, and enindependent of manual control. The type of apparatus to which my invention may be especially applied is that used at railway locomotive terminals and servicing points where sand is supplied to rail- Ll V way locomotives By the elimination of the need of constant attention by an attendant, and by the conservation of compressed air, considerable economy may be effected.

r-is preface to the following description, it may be stated that a complete conveying system of the type to which my improvements relate, may be considered as having two divisions. The one; that portion of the system located at the forwarding point and comprises a chamber into which the materials to be forwarded or conveyed, are placed, and which may be closed and subjected to internal pressure thereby causing movement of the materials in the chamber. This portion also comprises a means for placing the materials in the chamber, also conduit connections and valves. The other, that portion of the system located at the delivery point. This portion may comprise merely the end of the conveyer con ductor conduit arranged to allow the materials to be discharged into the open or it may consist of a receiving or storage chamber made of any suitable size and shape, said chamber usually being elevated and provided with a suitable outlet whereby the materials may be discharged by gravity.

The invention involves the provision of an improved control device consisting of the insertion of a pressure control valve in the compressed air or gas. conduit line leading from the source of compressed gas or air to the forwarding chamber of the conveyer system, as set forth in my previous application for Letters Patent filed October 17, 1928, Serial No. 313,102. The invention utilizes two characteristics of the conveyer system, namely the gravitational weight of the materials to be conveyed, and the compressed air or gas which serves as the medium of transfer, as factors of the control features.

By referring to the accompanying drawings, whereon like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures,

Figure 1 is a composite elevation view illustrating a conveyer system of the character herein described and embodying an application of my improvements. It represents both divisions, the forwarding and the delivery. Figure 2 is an enlarged section view taken on line 22 on Fig. 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged section View taken on line 33 on Fig. 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged sec tion view taken on line 44: on Fig. 1. Figure 5 is an elevation View illustrating another embodiment of a conveyer system of the character herein described and represent-- ing only the forwarding division.

In the particular arrangement shown, a container of any suitable size and shape is designated 10. This container as the forwarding chamber of veyer system. The liquid or granular materials be ponveyed are introouccd into t rorwaruing chamber through an opening at or near the top of the chamber. The materials are directed to the openi by means of a suitable housing or funnel 11. A Slll ble valve arrangement is provided for conveniezniy closing the opening when pressure is to be appli d inside the forwarding chamber. This arrangem nt i a-y consist of a seinspherical member 42 .iich will close a ainst a concave seat 48 when tension is applied to the connecting member 40. A conduit 12 of suitable size and arrangement, connects forwarding chaml er 10 with a cha'nber 13. This chain er functions as the receiving reservoir at the delivery point of the conveyer system in such cases as the materials conveyed re to e deposited in reservoir for storage or temporary aceumula on pending later disposal. If the materials conveyed are to be dispersed into the open this receiving chamber is dispensed with and conductor conduit 12 is opened to the atmosphere or into any suitable delivery heat. The conveyer system is supplied with compressed air or gas from a suitable supply by means or" conduit conductor 14. This conduit is intercepted by a valve. In Fig. 1 t llS valve has been illustrated as of the diaphragm pressure control type and designated 15. This valve is operated to an open position by pressure acting on a diaphragm member and to aclosed position by means of a spring designated 19. In place of the valve shown there can be used other types of valves capable of carrying out the functions described.

Near the bottom of forwarding chamber 10 is located a diaphragm member 20 to which is attached a rod 21 which in turn is attached to a piston type valve 24. This valve in operation has the effect of a threeway type valve. By referring to the enlarged section view Fig. 2 it will be observed that the piston 22 is provided with an opening 23 extending across it and another opening 25 which extends only part ,way across the piston and then curves to the end of the piston. A lever 32 providee with an intermeditate pivot 34 and an adjustable weight 31 is connected in flexible i'nanuer and by means of pin 33 at the opposite end. to the rod 21. Under normal conditions the weight will cause the piston to rest in the position illustrated :ith the result that conduit conductor 27 will e ircctively bloc-li against the surface of the piston and co duit 28 will be in inte nnnunicatin: relaico tionship with opening 25 by means of vent- 26 be open to the atmosphere.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that conduit 28 also connects to acylinder 46 near its bottom. By referring to section view Fig. 3 it will be noted that piston 41 operating in this cylinder is connected to a rod 40 which in turn is connected to a semispherical member 42, previously referred to, and which is located at the opening near top of forwarding chamber 10. A lever 47 provided with an end pivot 48 and an adjustable weight 49 is connected in a flexible manner and by means of a pin 44 at an intermediate point, to the rod 40. Under normal conditions the weightwill cause the valve member 42 to repose in an open position as illustrated. Piston 41 while reposed in normal position leaves a space in cylinder 46 to which conduit 28 is joined. Another conduit 16, joins cylinder 46 in such a manner to cause unobstructed communication between it and concuit 28 after piston 41 has made a predeterr lned movement. Cylint er 46 is provided will". an air vent 45 to prevent T U *uction to the movement or" piston 41. Vith this arrangement the valve member 4; may be made to move into at least a partly closed position before pressure is allowed to pass into the auxiliary chamber of the compressed air conduit control valve A modified arrangement is shown in Fig. 5 hereby conduit 28 connects valve 24 and re chamber of control valve 15. lVith angement pressure may be appliet to cylinder 46 to operate the piston 41 and rod 40, by means of a conduit connecting conduit 28 and the cylinder 46, or if desired the rod 40 may be operated by hand to close the forwarding chamber inlet, or by any other suitable means.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section taken through the control element mounted in the delivery or storage chamber. A diaphragm or other suitable flexible or movable member 52 is mounted inside the chamber 13 and connected to one end of rod 51 which in turn is connected to piston 53 which operates in a cylinder 50. This piston is provided with an opening 55. lVhen the piston is in normal position this opening establishes unobstructed communication between conduits 54 and 27. The piston is held in this normal position by some such means as a spring 56. V hen the piston moves, which it does as a result of pressure against member 52, the communication between conduits and 27 becomes obstructed. The pressure against member 52 will occur as a result of conveyed materials becoming piled against or above the member. lVhen the materials are removed the spring 56 will force the piston 5o oacl: to normal position and unobstructed communication will again be established between conduit conductors 54: and 27.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that conduit 54 establishes communication between the compressed gas supply conduit 1a and the valve member 50, and that conduit 27 establishes communication between valve member 50 and valve member 2 1-. When delivery chamber 13 is not used as a part of the conveyor system, or when it is not necessary to control the movement of the conveyed materials contingent upon the quantity at or near the discharge end of the conduit 12, then conduit 27 is connected direct to the source of compressed gas. In

ig. 5 this connection is shown as being made to conduit let at some point ahead of valve 15.

I11 Fig. 1 the delivery chamber 13 is indicated as being supported by a tower member 17 and also as being equipped with a discharge spout 18. The details and dimensions of these members will be determined by the local requirements. Customarily a valve or cut-off of some kind will be located in the discharge spout 18 to control the flow of materials from the chamber 13.

The cycle of operation for a complete conveyer system as described and represented by Fig. 1 is as follows 2- The materials to be conveyed are deposited into hopper 11. As a matter of convenience this hopper may be located beneath a fuel pulverizer, or sand drier, or any other source or regular supply of materials to be conveyed. The materials pass through the opening and into the forwarding chamber 10. WVhen the volume of the materials approaches the capacity of the chamber, their weight acting against counter weight of member 31 on lever 32, causes a movement of diaphragm member 20 and connecting rod 21 to the extent that piston 22 moves and allows unobstructed communication between conduit 27 and conduit- 28 by way of cavity 23 in piston member 22. Compressed gas or air in conduit 27 passes through conduit 28 into chamber of cylinder member d6 causing piston 41 to move upwardly and by means of connecting rod causes the semispherical valve member 42 to seat against valve seat 43 thereby closing the opening leading into the chamber 10. The movement of piston 41 in turn opens inlet to conduit conductor 16 thereby permitting unobstructed communication from conduit 27 to conduit 16 through conduit 28. Compressed gas or air is thus allowed to pass into the pressure control chamber of the valve thereby operating the valve 15 in the compressed gas or air supply conduit line 14: to an open position. Compressed air is thus allowed to enter forwarding chamber 10 through conduit 14. The pressure so built up in chamber 10 forces the materials to pass out through conductor conduit 12 and be deposited in a delivery chamber 13.

When the materials have been removed or transported from the forwarding chamber the pressure therein decreases with the result that both the pressure due to the gravitational weight of the materials and the pressure required to convey the materials is removed from the diaphragm member and the weight 31 operates lever 32 about pivot 3a and causes the diaphragm member 20, rod 21 and piston 22 to move to their original positions. This reverse movement causes piston 22 to close port to conduit 27 thereby cutting off the compressed gas or air supply. Piston 22- again in its normal position also opens conduit 28 to the atmosphere through cavity of piston 22 and through air port 26. The accumulated pressure in conduit 28 is dissipated, permitting piston 41 in chamber l6 to move in direction towards forwarding chamber 10, actuated by weight 49 on lever and thereby moving the valve member 42 away from valve seat d3 with the result that materials accumulated in hopper 11 are permitted to again flow freely into forwarding chamber 10. The movement of pistons 41 in cylinder 16 also permits pipe conduit 16 to be open to the atmosphere through air port 15, thus removing the pressure from pressure control chamber of valve 15. With this pressure removed the spring member 19 of the valve 15 causes it to move to its original position thereby closing off the compressed air or gas supply conduit 14. The materials again flowing into the chamber 10 cause a repetition of the cycle.

Unless the material is being removed from the delivery chamber 13 the chamber will in time become filled. T o prevent congestion or overflow, a control member or means consisting of a diaphragm and valve is located in some convenient position such that the pressure of the material against the diaphragm 52 will cause it to move and by means of connecting rod 51, move valve piston 53 in cylinder to a position closing portal of conduit 5 1, thereby removing air pressure from conduit 27. Under such circumstances the cycle of operation will be stopped until material has been drawn from the delivery chamber 13 and the pressure thereby remover from the diaphragm member From the foregoing description it will be observed that the conveyer system as described and illustrated is fully automatic in operation. That is to say, so long as m terials are supplied to the system they will be conveyed unless the accumulation in the delivery or storage chamber reaches the maximum capacity desired.

The use of a piston operating in a cylinder to actuate a rod member connected to a valve in a pressure chamber all for, the purpose of closing the material inlet opening by means of compressed gas or air is neither new nor novel. Such a device has been in general use for many years. I do not claim it as my invention, only in combination.

' By connecting conduit 28 direct to pressure control chamber of valve 15, this valve closing feature may be eliminated from the lonveyer system and any other desired means of closing the opening beneath ho per 11, into the forwarding chamber 10, substituted.

The use of an auxiliary chambered valve located in the compressed gas or air supply line to control the flow of compressed gas or air dependent upon pressure variations of the conveyer s stem is claimed as my invention and covered by previous application as referred to in this specification, but is not claimed in this invention, only in combination.

Valves of the sliding piston within a cylinder type, also flexible members such as diaphragms which may move in response to variable pressures and return to normal position in response to weights or springs or the like, are neither new nor novel and are not claimed as my invention, only in combination.

I have illustrated and described herein certain apparatus which may be employed to accomplish the purpose of my invention. It is lIOWGXGl, to be understood that various other forms of apparatus may be utilized to accomplish the purpose. Likewise that many detail parts of the apparatus may be considerably modified and changed without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

As being new and the principles exemplified by the particular example shown and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent, I claim:

1. In a conveyor of the class described, a forwarding chamber having a discharge conduit and a compressed air supply conduit connected thereto, an inlet for filling the forwarding chamber, a valve for said inlet, that has as actuating means a piston operating in a pressure chamber, a valve having a pressure chamber control, intercepting said compressed air supply conduit, a three-way valve oporatively connected to a flexible segment of wall of forwarding chamber, and a compressed air supply conduit intercepted by said three-way valve and connected to the pressure chambers of the aforesaid valves.

2. In a conveyor of the class described, a forwarding chamber having a discharge conduit and compressed air supply conduit connected thereto, means for admitting materials into the forwarding chamber comprising a valve actuated by a pressure chamher, a valve having an auxiliary control chamber mounted in said compressed air supply conduit, a three-way valve, a member mounted i: the wall of said'forvrarding chaml er and having movement responsive to variations in gravitational weight of materials to be conveyed and operatively connected to said three-Way valve, and a coinpressed air con lint con; to the auxila H thainsei nreiceotea inst by pressure chamber scribed, a a c charge con- 1 v supply conduit diet Io; i the iected to a fwvrarding air supply c0nl tr. e-way valve, e chamber of said the cla s described, a ....nber and a dc 1; a conduit iiltOl'CCllZl' sir conduit CO1:

-ol, a a movable ery chamber, to a flexible id forwarding 118.11 d a compressed air supply conduit nected to sa pressure chamber of the amed valve intercepted by the t named valves.

conveyer of the cla described, a

l e a discharge consuppl z conduit .aving pressure d in comess e connecmd in said de till all \Tn s In a reverse ac and a valve operative-iy conn ble segment i' chamber, and supply conduit co bcrs f said f( rdi n g a compressed air ii to pressure chamiie'l i i described, a a discharge con- )lv conduit 1 reto,-a valve hann a sprin ch ring ineans, in

ed supply conaid forwarding chamber, a valve control 1 1' said inlet having as operating means a piston operating in ton operatin in a pressure chamber, a valve operatively connected to a flexible segment of wall of forwarding chamber, and a compressed air supply conduit, intercepted by last named valve, connected to the two pressure chambers.

7. In a conveyer of the class described, a forwarding chamber and delivery chamber iaving a conduit interconnection, a compressed air supply conduit connected to said forwarding chamber, a valve intercepting said compressed air supply conduit, he ing a pressure chamber control, an inlet for filling said forwarding chamber, a valve for said inlet, t rat has as operating means a pisin a pressure chamber, a threeway valve operatively connected to a flexible segment of wall of forwarding chamber, a valve operatively connected to a movable member mounted said delivery chamber, and a compressed air supply conduit intercepted by said three-way valve and by said last named valve and connectec to the pressure chambers of the two aforesaid valves.

8. In a conveyer of the class described, a

forwarding chamber and a delivery chamber having a conduit interconnection, a compressed air supply conduit connected to said forwarding chamber, a valve in ercepting said compressed air supply condu 3-, having a pressure chamber control, an inlet for filling said forwarding chamber, a valve for said inlet, that has as operatin means a piston operating in a pressure chamber, a conduit connection between said pressure chambers, a valve operatively connected to a flexible segment of wall of forwarding chamber, a valve operatively connected to a movable member mounted in said delivery chamber, a compressed air supply conduit, intercepted by the two last named valves, connected to the pressure chamber of the inlet valve.

9. In a conveyer of the class described, aforwarding chamber and a delivery chamber having a conduit interconnection, a compressed air supply conouit connected to the forwarding chamber, a valve having a spring and pressure chamber operatin means, intercepting the compressed air supply conduit, an inlet for filling said forwarding chamber, a valve for said inlet, having as operating means a piston acting in a pressure chamber against the reverse action of a counter weighted lever, a valve operatively connected to a flexible segment of wall of said forwarding chamber, a valve operative- 1y connected to a movable member mounted in said delivery chamber, a compressed air supply conduit intercepted by the two last named valves and connected to the pressure chambers of the two first named valves.

10. In a conveyer of the class described, aforwarding chamber and a delivery chamber having a conduit interconnection, a compressed air supply conduit connected to forwarding chamber, an opening in said forsupply conduit.

JAMES BENTON SCI-IAUB. 

